An MP has been charged with sexual assault over alleged incidents at London’s exclusive Groucho Club in 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

Patrick Spencer, the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich and son of the former Conservative treasurer Michael Spencer, was charged with two counts of sexual assault against two separate women, said the CPS.

Frank Ferguson, the head of the CPS’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan police service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP.

“The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023.”

He added: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial.

“It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

The Met said Spencer, who became a Conservative MP in the 2024 general election, would appear at Westminster magistrates court on 16 June. It added that a man attended a voluntary interview at a London police station on 13 March.

A Conservative party spokesperson said Spencer had been suspended by the party and had the whip withdrawn with immediate effect.

Party sources said they found out about the accusations after Spencer won his seat and had been appointed as parliamentary aide to the shadow education secretary, Laura Trott.

They added that the chief whip had asked the MP not to attend parliament while police inquiries were ongoing.

Lawyers acting for Spencer said Spencer categorically denied the charges.

“He has cooperated fully with the police investigation from the moment he became aware of it and he will defend the allegations robustly in court. Given that the proceedings are now on foot, no further comment will be made,” they said.

Before entering parliament, Spencer worked for his billionaire father’s investment company IPGL, before working for a centre-right thinktank, the Centre for Social Justice.

Spencer won his seat with a majority of 4,290 votes ahead of Kevin Craig, who was suspended as the Labour candidate nine days before the election after it was revealed he had bet on himself to lose.

According to his website, Spencer lives in Suffolk with his wife and two sons.